Since the comments have moved back to the Olympics, I heard on NPR an hour ago that the Dutch and Australians in China are wearing their team colors, so as not to be mistaken for an American, and thus not be a target for some sniper or suicide bomber. Both of which, suggests NPR, would be floating around the Olympic venues, naturally targeting Americans.

I like that defence, especially the Dutch. They wouldn't want to be innocent bystanders caught up between someone with a grievance and their target (like Theo van Gogh.)

Is there any nationality that can match them for being utter chicken shits? Don't say the Italians!

I knew a guy who was a gymnast in high school. When he graduated he started his own gymnastics studio. His students were mostly little girls, so I learned at his funeral where his classes were in attendance. Worst funeral ever, but that's another story. He was handsome, muscular, outgoing, and exceedingly smart. He spoke/read/wrote Russian which he learned to advance his gymnastic business. He was able to tip forward onto his hands and walk across the room on his hands to the gobsmacking amazement of everybody present. He loved his body and liked playing practical jokes. Once after a party I found a photo on my camera that took some deciphering to understand. Finally, I realized the gymnast stuck the camera into his pants and photographed his own penis, then left the photo on my camera for me to discover.

Here's the point I'm leading to: He confided, under the influence of several American beers, that the entire gymnastic H.S. team was gay. They didn't admit it, but they were. He said they all traded off topping one another. They wouldn't blow each other because that would be admitting they were homo, but as long as they left it to straight up, ahem, topping, and in accordance with their own logic, as long as they traded places, they were relieving themselves and not behaving homosexually. He recalled those precious moments with a good deal of fondness.

Maybe I should have said complications associated with AIDS. He died of meningitis. He could have been saved but for reasons of his own, he refused treatment. I saw him last when he was first hospitalized. He appeared perfectly healthy. He perished within a few weeks.

As to the funeral, all the children were assembled at the front of the church. the preacher, who was old and ugly, leaned over a parapet and scared the living hell out of the little girls. They didn't understand what he was talking about, they only knew he was being mean. The family brought the preacher from their hometown to Denver for the service.

The carpool home was in silence. At the halfway point I said, "I hated that preacher." The car exploded with pent-up anger, and it was total noise all the way to the reception. When we got there, all the other carpoolers had the same experience so the entire household was buzzing about how despicable the preacher was and how Lutheranism must be a dreadful sect, if that represented it. The family didn't realize the guy, Wayne, had so many friends. They were shocked to learn about this after he died. A new chapter opened in their lives, his friends that he had been keeping separate. They disassociated themselves from their hometown church because of the dreadful and hateful eulogy their preacher delivered.

Treatment with antivirals means you can live with HIV. It is a manageable disease if you get on the meds. I have many friends that were on death's door and after taking meds are living productive lives. They are healthy, no infections and have normal CD4 and undectable tcell counts. They tell me their doctors tell them they will live long lives into old age. The meds generally make someone with HIV undetectable of the virus. I don't understand why he wouldn't accept treatment? That is a very sad story.

I have many friends who are HIV positive. Unfortunately, in NYC it is fairly common. As a matter of fact, most of my friends are HIV positive. They look great too. Many of them are on testerone injections though. They don't need them the docs just give it to them so they can feel better about themselves and have even bigger bodies.

I can't remember the last time I have read or heard about a gay man dieing of AIDS. It just doesn't happen anymore, if they take their meds, aren't fucked up in some other way, like on crystal meth or some other substance. Granted, it does happen but it is rare.

I read last week researchers mapped the virus gene(s?) and discovered a portion that doesn't change. This gives them a solid unchanging point to attack. They believe they can actually cure the disease, not just manage it.

I am having a hard time concentrating on the first part of the story. Yea, the first part is kind of hot but the second part supercedes it by miles.

If he was my friend I would of been bitching at him to get on the meds. Not that I am saying that was your role but it would of been mine.

I have intimate experience with the disease as many that were very close to me died at a young age. I also worked at the Boston Aids Action Committee during the height of the plaque. Talk about depressing. I was ready to slit my throat. Believe it or not, I didn't have sex for 7 years after my partner died. I was a hermit. Working and never leaving my apartment.

I've been blessed not to have gone to many funerals in my life -- less than 10. (Grandmother, uncle, aunt, best friend's parents, groomsman, professor) I wonder if I, sitting through such a screed by a minister, would have the courage to stand up and tell the preacher to go to hell.

I'd probably just avoid the whole thing.

I am so tired this morning. I can't wait for the Olympics to be over so I can get to sleep at a decent hour again!

I have been to many, many funerals where the sermon has be "unfortunate" to say the lease. Sometimes the preacher or priest forgets that it's not about them or thier hobby horse but the person who died.

The best thing you can do is go up to the family and tell them how much you cared for and respected the person who passed. After all you are there to pay your respects.